• Join the Rutgers Master Gardeners at a free festival for children of all ages from noon to 4 p.m. Aug. 17 at the Monmouth County Agricultural Building, 4000 Kozloski Road, Freehold Township. There will be nature inspired activities, crafts and educational exhibits, live butterflies, ladybugs, rabbits, snakes, bees and more. Food, ice cream, fresh produce and other vendors will be on hand. All children must be accompanied by an adult. Details: 732-303-7614.
• There will be a pie-eating contest at the Monmouth County Fair, Freehold Township, on July 28. Pies are donated by Wemrock Orchards, Freehold Township. Children 12 and under will compete at 1 p.m. Children 13 and up will compete at 1:15 p.m. On-site registration for both contests begins 11 a.m. inside the dining tent by the Main Stage; space is limited. The fair runs from July 24-28. Admission is $8 per person; children 12 and under are free. Follow the Monmouth County Park System on social media. Upcoming fair contests will be announced on its Facebook, Twitter and Instagram pages, offering an opportunity to win admission tickets and more. Details: www.MonmouthCountyFair.com or 732-842-4000.
• See a 19th century gristmill in action at Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold, from 1-4 p.m. July 13, 14, 20, 21, 27 and 28. Sponsored by the Monmouth County Park System. This is a free event. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Monmouth County Park System will present an Enviro-Quest on July 18 from 11 a.m. to noon at Clayton Park, Upper Freehold (start at the trail head parking lot on Emley’s Hill Road). Follow the Enviro-Quest signs to where the park system naturalist is waiting. Once there, join in free nature related activities, crafts or games for 30 to 60 minutes of nature fun. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Join a Monmouth County Park System naturalist for a walk and discuss seasonal points of interest, search for signs of wildlife and identify a bird or two at 9 a.m. July 27 at Crosswicks Creek Park, Upper Freehold (meet in Polhemustown Road parking lot). The free program runs 90 minutes to two hours, participants may join in or drop out at any point. Dress for the weather as light rain is not a deterrent. Details: 732-842-4000.
• Weaving a Seat – Chair Caning, sponsored by the Monmouth County Park System, will be held from 1-4 p.m. July 14 at Historic Walnford, Upper Freehold. See the craft of cane chair seats demonstrated. This is a free program. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The Casual Birder, sponsored by the Monmouth County Park System, will be held at 9 a.m. July 18 at Crosswicks Creek Park, Upper Freehold (meet in parking area across from 4 Polhemustown Road). Join a park system naturalist for a laid-back morning bird walk. Open to ages 11 and up; under 16 with adult. This is a free program. Details: 732-842-4000.
• The New Jersey State Museum, 205 W. State St., Trenton, is presenting “Many Inspired Steps” to commemorate the 50th anniversary of the Apollo 11 moon landing that took place on July 21, 1969. Currently on view through Nov. 10, the exhibition uses a variety of objects and images to examine the space race between the United States and the Soviet Union, the pioneers of space travel and other state connections to the landing and the space program. Admission is free; donations requested. Details: 609-292-5420 or visit statemuseumnj.gov
• Representatives of the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries will be present in the atrium of the Star and Barry Ambulatory Campus, West Main Street, Freehold Township, from 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. July 17 to accept gently used costume jewelry as a donation to the CentraState Associated Auxiliaries for a future jewelry extravaganza sale at CentraState Medical Center, Freehold Township.
• “New Jersey Baseball: From the Cradle to the Major Leagues” is on exhibit at the Morven Museum and Garden, Princeton, until Oct. 27. The exhibition tells the story of New Jersey’s role in the history of early organized baseball through artifacts, text, images and other visuals. There are interactives that offer educational opportunities, as well as demonstrations with hands-on experiences. Details: morven.org
• The Heart of New Jersey Chorus is looking for members in all voice parts. Open rehearsals are being held during the summer. The chorus rehearses Wednesday from 7:30-10 p.m. at the Millstone Township Primary School, 18 Schoolhouse Road, Millstone Township. Details: Visit honj.org or call 732-446-9782.
• The Monmouth County Fair will return to the East Freehold Showgrounds, Kozloski Road, Freehold Township, from July 24-28. Hours for the fair are 5-11 p.m. July 24-26; 11 a.m. to 11 p.m. July 27; and 11 a.m. to 6 p.m. July 28. The 2019 Main Stage entertainment is as follows: July 24, Start Making Sense, a Talking Heads tribute band; July 25, Big House Band; July 26, Jake’s Rockin’ Country Band; July 27, School of Rock, and Jobonanno and the Godsons present “The Spirit of Asbury Revue” and July 28, Last Whippoorwill. Details: 732-842-4000.
• DowntownFreehold.com has announced its 2019 Thursdays Rock concert lineup. The free concerts take place at the Monmouth County Hall of Records Plaza from 7:30-9:30 p.m. All ages welcome. The bands are: July 11, Rockit Fish; July 18, Soul Project NOLO; July 25, The Springsteen Experience; Aug. 1, Joe Keyes and the Late Bloomer Band; Aug. 8, Joe Baracata Band; Aug. 15, Stephen Martines; and Aug. 22, Full Throttle. Details: DowntownFreehold.com
• Monmouth County will hold a paper shredding event from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. Aug. 3 at Millstone Park, 4 Red Valley Road, Millstone Township. County residents may bring up to 100 pounds of documents to be shredded. Details: See the recycling section of the county website at www.VisitMonmouth.com or call 732-683-8686, ext. 6721.
• Samaritan Center, a joint ministry of St. Thomas More and Old Tennent Presbyterian churches, operates a food pantry to provide supplementary food for those in need in Manalapan, Marlboro, Englishtown and Millstone Township. For information, call 732-446-1142 and make an appointment. Pickup dates are Tuesday and Thursday from 9:30-11:15 a.m. and Saturday from 9-11 a.m. Volunteers will gladly carry food to a client’s vehicle. Donations of funds and food are gratefully accepted to support the operation of the center. Volunteers are always welcome.
• Millstone Township residents who are interested in history, heritage, research and education are invited to apply for membership on the Millstone Township Historic Preservation Commission. Interested individuals may complete a talent bank application on the township’s website or in the municipal offices.
• Millstone Township Recreation invites students in grades eight through 12 to volunteer for its sports programs and special events. Young adults may complete community service hours for school, religious organizations or clubs. To see volunteer opportunities, visit www.millstonerec.org
Items for the Datebook may be sent to news@njexaminer.com. Please submit items at least two weeks prior to a scheduled event.
